1 Corinthians 1 · Verse 9

1 Corinthians 1:9

God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Corinthians 1:9, King James Version

1 Corinthians 1:9 in other translations

BSBGod, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
WEBGod is faithful, through whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
ASVGod is faithful, through whom ye were called into the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
YLTfaithful is God, through whom ye were called to the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
DARBYGod is faithful, by whom ye have been called into the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
BBEGod is true, through whom you have been given a part with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
WebsterGod is faithful, by whom ye were called to the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

What does 1 Corinthians 1:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
9. faithful--to His promises (Php 1:6; 1Th 5:24). called--according to His purpose (Ro 8:28). unto ... fellowship of ... Jesus--to be fellow heirs with Christ (Ro 8:17-28), like Him sons of God and heirs of glory (Ro 8:30; 2Th 2:14; 1Pe 5:10; 1Jo 1:3). Chrysostom remarks that the name of Christ is oftener mentioned in this than in any other Epistle, the apostle designing thereby to draw them away from their party admiration of particular teachers to Christ alone.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 9. God is faithful. That is, God is true, and constant, and will adhere to his promises. He will not deceive. He will not promise, and then fail to perform; he will not commence anything which he will not perfect and finish. The object of Paul, in introducing the idea of the faithfulness of God, here is, to show the reason for believing that the Christians at Corinth would be kept unto everlasting life. The evidence that they will persevere depends on the fidelity of God; and the argument of the apostle is, that as they had been called by him into the fellowship of his Son, his faithfulness of character would render it certain that they would be kept to eternal life. The same idea he has presented in Php 1:6: "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you, will also perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." Ye were called. The word "called" here does not refer merely to an invitation or an offer of life, but to the effectual influence which had been put forth; which had inclined them to embrace the gospel. Rom 8:30; Rom 9:12. See Mk 2:17, Lk 5:32, Gal 1:6,7, 5:8,13; Eph 1:4, Col 3:16. In this sense the word often occurs in the Scriptures, and is designed to denote a power, or influence, that goes forth with the external invitation, and that makes it effectual. That power is the agency of the Holy Spirit.

Unto the fellowship of his Son. To participate with his Son Jesus Christ; to be partakers with him. Jn 15:1 and following. Christians participate with Christ

(1.) in his feelings and views, Rom 8:9.

(2.) In his trials and sufferings, being subjected to temptations and trials similar to his. 1Pet 4:13: "But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings;" Col 1:24, Php 3:10.

(3.) In his heirship to the inheritance and glory which awaits him. Rom 8:17: "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;" 1Pet 1:4.

(4.) In his triumph in the resurrection and future glory. Mt 19:28: "Ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." Jn 14:19: "Because I live, ye shall live also." Rev 3:21: "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." From all this, the argument of the apostle is, that as they partake with Christ in these high privileges, and hopes, and promises, they will be kept by a faithful God unto eternal life. God is faithful to his Son; and will be faithful to all who are united to him. The argument for the perseverance of the saints is, therefore, sure.

(*) "unto" "into" (a) "fellowship" 1Jn 1:3

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 God is faithful - The faithfulness of God is a favourite expression among the ancient Jews; and by it they properly understand the integrity of God in preserving whatever is entrusted to him. And they suppose that in this sense the fidelity of man may illustrate the fidelity of God, in reference to which they tell the two following stories. "Rabbi Phineas, the son of Jair, dwelt in a certain city, whither some men came who had two measures of barley, which they desired him to preserve for them. They afterwards forgot their barley and went away. Rabbi Phineas each year sowed the barley, reaped, thrashed, and laid it up in his granary. When seven years had elapsed the men returned, and desired to have the barley with which they had entrusted him. Rabbi Phineas recollected them, and said, 'Come and take your treasure,' i.e. the barley they had left, with all that it had produced for seven years. Thus, from the faithfulness of man ye may know the faithfulness of God." "Rabbi Simeon, the son of Shetach, bought an ass from some Edomites, at whose neck his disciples saw a diamond hanging; they said unto him, Rabbi, the blessing of the Lord maketh rich, Pro 10:22. But he answered: The ass I have bought, but the diamond I have not bought; therefore he returned the diamond to the Edomites. Thus, from the fidelity of man ye may know the fidelity of God." This was an instance of rare honesty, not to be paralleled among the Jews of the present day, and probably among few Gentiles. Whatever is committed to the keeping of God he will most carefully preserve; for he is faithful. Unto the fellowship, etc. - Εις κοινωνιαν, Into the communion or participation of Christ, in the graces of his Spirit and the glories of his future kingdom. God will continue to uphold and save you, if you entrust your bodies and souls to him. But can it be said that God will keep what is either not entrusted to him; or, after being entrusted, is taken away?

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

The doctrine of a crucified Saviour, as advancing the glory of God, (17-25) and humbling the creature before him. (26-31) Verses 1-9 All Christians are by baptism dedicated and devoted to Christ, and are under strict obligations to be holy. But in the true church of God are all who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, and who call upon him as God manifest in the flesh, for all the blessings of…

Read the full comment on 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 →

1 Corinthians 1:9 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΠιστὸςPistosFaithful [is]G4103
ὁho<the>G3588
θεός,theosGod,G2316
δι᾽di᾽throughG1223
οὗhouwhomG3739
ἐκλήθητεeklēthēteyou were calledG2564
εἰςeisintoG1519
κοινωνίανkoinōnianfellowshipG2842
τοῦtouwith theG3588
υἱοῦhuiouSonG5207
αὐτοῦautouof HimG846
ἸησοῦIēsouJesusG2424
ΧριστοῦChristouChristG5547
τοῦtoutheG3588
κυρίουkuriouLordG2962
ἡμῶν.¶hēmōnof us.G3165

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Corinthians 1:9

  • 2 Thessalonians 3:3

    But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.

  • Hebrews 10:23

    Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

  • Deuteronomy 7:9

    Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

  • 1 John 1:3

    That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

  • 1 Corinthians 10:13

    There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

  • Deuteronomy 32:4

    He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

  • Romans 8:28

    And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

  • Isaiah 49:7

    Thus saith the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the Lord that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.

  • Psalms 100:5

    For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

  • 1 John 1:7

    But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

  • Revelation 19:11

    And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

  • 1 Peter 5:10

    But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
God.
10:13; Nu 23:19; De 7:9; 32:4; Ps 89:33-35; 100:5; Isa 11:5; 25:1
Isa 49:7; La 3:22,23; Mt 24:35; 1Th 5:23,24; 2Th 3:3; Tit 1:2
Heb 2:17; 6:18; 10:23; 11:11; Re 19:11
by.
Col 1:24; Ro 8:28,30; 9:24; Ga 1:15; 1Th 2:12; 2Th 2:14; 2Ti 1:9
Heb 3:1; 1Pe 5:10
the fellowship.
30; 10:16; Joh 15:4,5; 17:21; Ro 11:17; Ga 2:20; Eph 2:20-22; 3:6
Heb 3:14; 1Jo 1:3,7; 4:13

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Corinthians 1:8

    Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

  • 1 Corinthians 1:9

    God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

  • 1 Corinthians 1:10

    Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Read all of 1 Corinthians 1

1 Corinthians 1:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Fiel es Dios, por el cual sois llamados á la participación de su Hijo Jesucristo nuestro Señor.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Dieu, par qui vous avez été appelés à la communion de son Fils Jésus Christ, notre Seigneur, est fidèle.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Gott ist treu, durch welchen ihr berufen worden seid in die Gemeinschaft seines Sohnes Jesus Christus, unseres Herrn.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Fidelis Deus: per quem vocati estis in societatem filii ejus Jesu Christi Domini nostri.